Courses of Study 2024-2025 
    
    Jan 30, 2025  
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Courses of Study 2024-2025

School of Integrative Plant Science Minors

The School of Integrative Plant Science (SIPS) offers six different minors, from a general minor in Plant Sciences to others that engage Cornell students more deeply in some of the critical areas of plant and soil science. Minors are available only to matriculated Cornell University students, and classes used for any minor requirement must be taken in person, not online. Transfer students must get approval from the minor faculty advisor to use a course completed at another institution for a minor program requirement. No more than three credits from another institution may be used towards a minor program. Special topic courses, seminar courses, and courses without regular instruction cannot be counted towards any minor requirement. All courses must be taken for a letter grade, and a grade of “C” or better must be received to count towards the minor. For more information, visit the SIPS website. 

Students may not complete more than one minor in the School of Integrative Plant Science.

Plant Sciences majors are not eligible to complete a minor offered through SIPS.

How to Apply

Students must submit a Declaration of Intent form (visit the SIPS website for current link) for the minor they are interested in pursuing, and the declaration must be received no later than the last day of classes in the student’s final semester at Cornell. 

Verifying Completion of Minor

  1. In your second-to-last semester, prior to pre-enrollment for your last semester at Cornell, meet with your minor advisor to determine if you have completed all requirements or which requirements must be completed in your last semester. 
  2. Fill out the attestation form emailed to you before the start of your last semester, detailing which if any requirements you are completing in your last semester. Your minor advisor will confirm your standing in the program.
  3. Once your last semester’s grades are posted by the University Registrar, the minor coordinator will check your transcript against your attestation form and notify your college whether you have completed the minor. There is no need for you to follow up separately with the minor coordinator about completing the minor or having it added to your academic record.
  4. Your minor should appear on your official transcript 2-3 weeks after your last semester’s final grades post. If you do not see it by the end of June (for May graduates), the end of September (for August graduates) or the end of January (for December graduates), please email the SIPS minor coordinator.

Plant Sciences Minor

At least 15 credits in Plant Sciences (PLSCI) coursework.

Note: Courses taken prior to Fall 2024 with an inactivate PL-prefix (i.e., PLBIO, PLBRG, PLHRT, PLPPM, and PLSCS) will still count towards the minor so long as that course was accepted for minor credit at the time it was completed.

Required Courses

Elective Courses

Must take at least one of the following courses:

Additional Electives

Any 2-3 instructor-led courses (minimum 6 credits) in PLSCI at the 2000 level or greater, except for PLSCI 2000 , PLSCI 2010 , PLSCI 2260 , PLSCI 2301 , PLSCI 2302 , PLSCI 2400 , PLSCI 2490 , and PLSCI 2940 .  

Crop Management Minor

At least 15 credits from the courses listed below.

Note: Courses taken prior to Fall 2024 with an inactivate PL-prefix (i.e., PLBIO, PLBRG, PLHRT, PLPPM, and PLSCS) will still count towards the minor so long as that course was accepted for minor credit at the time it was completed.

Crop Science

Complete at least one of these courses:

Soil Science

Complete at least one of these courses:

Plant Protection and Pest Management

Complete at least one of these courses:

Transfer Courses:

Equivalent transferred courses can be substituted. For Agricultural Sciences and Plant Sciences majors, consider concentrating in Crop Science to prepare for the Certified Crop Advisor examination, which provides an important credential for jobs in agriculture and environmental management.

Fungal Biology Minor

At least 12 credits from the courses listed below.

Note: Courses taken prior to Fall 2024 with an inactivate PL-prefix (i.e., PLBIO, PLBRG, PLHRT, PLPPM, and PLSCS) will still count towards the minor so long as that course was accepted for minor credit at the time it was completed.

Required Courses

Additional Courses

Students should select either the main or advanced track of courses:

1. Main track, for students with a lighter biology focus:

2. Advanced track, for students thinking of graduate school:

Horticulture Minor

At least 15 credits from the courses listed below. All courses must be taken for a letter grade, and a grade of “C” or better must be received to count toward the Horticulture minor.

Note: Courses taken prior to Fall 2024 with an inactivate PL-prefix (i.e., PLBIO, PLBRG, PLHRT, PLPPM, and PLSCS) will still count towards the minor so long as that course was accepted for minor credit at the time it was completed.

Required Courses

Elective Courses

At least eight credits from the list below. Special topics courses, seminar courses, and courses without regular instruction cannot be counted toward the credit requirement.

Accommodations for transfer students (course substitution per advisor)

Students who matriculate with AP credit in biology are still expected to take PLSCI 1101  and PLSCI 1115 . Transfer students must verify with the minor advisor that they have taken the equivalent of PLSCI 1101  and PLSCI 1115  for those courses to count toward the horticulture minor. Students are expected to take a minimum of 15 credits to complete the minor program.

Plant Breeding Minor

At least 15 credits from the courses listed below.

Note: Courses taken prior to Fall 2024 with an inactivate PL-prefix (i.e., PLBIO, PLBRG, PLHRT, PLPPM, and PLSCS) will still count towards the minor so long as that course was accepted for minor credit at the time it was completed.

Required Courses

Elective Courses

5 credits minimum required from the list below:

Soil Science Minor

At least 15 credits from the courses listed below.

Note: Courses taken prior to Fall 2024 with an inactivate PL-prefix (i.e., PLBIO, PLBRG, PLHRT, PLPPM, and PLSCS) will still count towards the minor so long as that course was accepted for minor credit at the time it was completed.

Required Course

Environmental Information Sciences

At least one course from the list below:

Additional Courses

Two courses, minimum of 8 credits in soil science from the list below:

Note: Civil Service classification

Students qualify for the Civil Service classification as Soil Scientist (GS-0470) if they take an additional 12 credits in biological, physical, and earth sciences. Civil Service classification as Soil Conservationist (GS-0457) is achieved with the minor plus 12 credits in natural resources and agriculture and 3 credits in applied plant science. For a complete list of requirements and eligible courses, contact the minor advisor.

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